Sonnenberg Gardens

A fun day trip if you're near Canandaigua, NY is a visit to the Sonnenberg Gardens.

My favorite gardens were the rock gardens, the "old-fashioned," and the Japanese.

I'd also love to see the rose garden when it's in bloom

and the moonlight garden 

(all silver or white foliage and flowers, 

which they say show beautifully in the moonlight) 

Another visit, another time...

 

Here are some pictures from our strolls around the grounds:

We started at the rock garden.

If I remember correctly,

 that's a massive hydrangea vine growing up the side of the stairs!

And then suddenly, it was like we were at Hogwarts:

Apparently Mary Clark Thompson loved birds and had many types...

Onto the old-fashioned garden:

the osage oranges were incredible!

The entrance to the rose garden... not much to see in late August.

The side entrance to the mansion...

Visitors can go in the mansion and talk to any number of very knowledgeable volunteers...

Learning about Fred and Mary Thompson and taking in all of the architecture and decor and thinking about what life was like, was all very interesting,

 I just didn't take any pictures of the interior!

And last, but certainly not least,

the Japanese Garden:

I love how these tree roots found their way around the stone steps...

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All in all, a lovely way to spend an afternoon if you're in the Finger Lakes!